José Macías, known as 'Fito', an Ecuadorian drug lord, pleaded not guilty yesterday after his extradition to New York, according to a report by the Associated Press's EECastillo. This development comes as several political and legal matters unfold in the United States. Senate Minority Leader John Thune is reportedly considering cutting short the chamber’s August recess at the request of President Donald Trump to confirm more nominees, as reported by Punchbowl News. Meanwhile, Senator Patty Murray, a top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, indicated yesterday that she expects to vote to advance the Military Construction-VA appropriations bill today, which requires 60 votes to proceed. In other legislative news, the House of Representatives is considering H.R. 3898, a bill aimed at reforming the Clean Water Act's regulatory and permitting process to support energy producers, agriculture, builders, and utilities while promoting efficiency and transparency, according to a statement from RulesReps. Separately, the Supreme Court declined to hear Tesla's lawsuit regarding direct sales in Louisiana, leading to the case's dismissal, as reported yesterday by L. McGaughy. Regarding political polling, a CBS News poll indicates a significant shift in President Trump's approval among individuals aged 18-29. His approval in this demographic dropped from 55% in early February to 28% in July, representing a 54-point negative swing. Additionally, Senator John Cornyn stated on the Senate floor yesterday that he would continue to push for restrictions on U.S. investment in China as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In legal matters, the Georgia State Ethics Commission rejected a complaint filed by Attorney General Chris Carr seeking an investigation into a $10 million loan Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones made to his gubernatorial campaign, as reported by Bluestein. Separately, New Jersey's constitution prohibits mid-decade redistricting, stating that congressional districts shall remain unaltered until the next year ending in zero following a federal census, according to K. Kondik. Recent discussions have also touched upon Hunter Biden, with Channel5iveNews and DHSgov referencing his alleged comments regarding illegal immigration and an "infamous laptop." Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Bret Baier that U.S. strikes have "seriously damaged" Iranian nuclear facilities, as reported by Lucas Fox News. In cultural commentary, Shane Gillis and other commentators have discussed Jeffrey Epstein, while Pam Bondi met with Dr. Alveda King ahead of the release of Martin Luther King Jr. files. Lastly, Rand Paul announced that his father, Ron Paul, will turn 90 on August 20 and encouraged well-wishers to send cards to a provided address.
